I saw a cardiologist today.
Nothing serious is going on (I hope), but at my doctor’s appointment on Monday I mentioned a few minor symptoms I’d been having, and it was enough to get her attention and suggest doing some tests.
The cardiologist suggested doing a stress test with imaging in a couple of weeks just to rule out any heart problems causing my occasional shortness of breath and a little pain (I tend to think it’s mostly some extra pounds I’m dragging around and a bit of anxiety).
I’ll follow the doctor’s advice because I know my heart is important. A physical stress test will show how well my heart is working and point out any problems.
Later today I had a spiritual stress test.
I guess maybe I was a little more nervous about my heart stuff than I originally thought. And then I started thinking about some projects I wasn’t getting done. And then I worried about one of my kids as they struggled with some problems today. And then I took on the heavy weight of worrying about someone else’s relationship issues. And then I found a task I hadn’t gotten done on time. And then I bought the wrong brand of something at the grocery store and had to go back to return it.
And then I had a meltdown while we ate our supper. Poor Gary had to try to enjoy his meal while tears were rolling down my cheeks and I had to keep wiping my eyes and nose. He thought it was about my grocery store mistake, but it was so much more than that.
I had failed my spiritual stress test.
When the pressures and concerns of life came my way today, my spiritual heart was weak and it couldn’t take the stress. No wonder I became a puddle of tears!
After I had a good cry, I took a closer look at my thoughts and what led up to my meltdown. I realized I had not been opening my Bible very often lately and I had been letting my thoughts run wild instead of catching them and making sure they were true (and everything else in Philippians 4:8).
So I spent a little time in the Word before I started writing this post. God led me to the verse below, a reminder to put on faith, love, and hope as we live each day. I definitely didn’t do that when I went through my spiritual stress test today. That test pointed out a big problem with my spiritual heart. It’s gotten weak and I need to let the Holy Spirit work on it so I’m stronger next time those tests come.
I’m quite confident my physical heart is just fine, and hopefully the stress test will confirm that.
I’m going to try to look at the trials that come my way as a spiritual stress test, and hopefully my spiritual heart will be just fine, too.
“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8 NIV)
How’s your heart doing? How can focusing on God help you to pass any spiritual stress tests that come your way?
Hi Robyn, I hope your heart stress test shows all is well physically! Spiritually, I’m with you. Today I was pondering 2 Corinthians 10:5 and wondered if I could take captive every “emotion” and make it obedient to Christ. It sure would make a lot of sense. I’ll pray for you to stay in God’s Word and think on all things lovely!
Thanks, Susan! I think it will be fine. I also think that when we practice taking every thought captive, the emotions will into place. It’s so tricky because it “feels” like we’re at the mercy of our emotions. I’m learning more and more that we really aren’t. I’ll be praying for you, too! ~Robyn
This was ME exactly a week ago. I started spending more time in God’s Word again, and I’m doing much better!
Tricia, I’m so glad you’re doing better! It’s amazing how quickly we start to flounder when we get away from the Word. Hope we both remember that and pass our “stress tests.”